Fluted shield for headlights



E. PETRAKAKIS 2,550,594

FLUTED SHIELD FOR HEADLIGHTS A nril 24; 1951 Filed Dec. 3 1, 1947 FIG! EMANUEL PET RAKAKES INVENTOR 16, FIG'.4' Sw ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 24, 1951 assess;

"UNITED STATES PATENT orrics I Emanuel Petrakakis, New York, N. Y. Application December 31, 1947, Serial No. 794,860

stantial distance ahead.

An object of this invention is to provide in a manner hereinafter set forth, a headlight shield in the form of an attachment for the purpose referred to, whichmay be constructed of sheet metal by a single stamping operation so as to materially reduce the cost of production and which is simple in its construction, strong, durable, thoroughly efiicient in its use andinexpensive to manufacture. 7

Another object of this invention is to provide a headlight shield which is provided with a refleeting lower surface, this being preferably obtained by chromium plating the surface.

Another-object of this invention is to provide a glare preventing attachment shield which can be attached to any standard automobileheadlight and which will not only prevent the upwardly directed rays from reaching the eyes of oncoming drivers but. will cause the rays to be directed forwardly and downwardly thereby increasing the lighting of the road ahead of the vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to form ribs of semi-circular cross-section in th reflecting surface of the shield so as to cause beams of light to be reflected and thrown downwardly by the headlight, while harmful glare is obviated.

Another object of this invention is to converge the ribs toward the light bulb so that the reflect- 2-Claims; (Cl. 240-4653) ed beams of light will diverge and'increase the lighted area of the roadway in advance of the automobile to assure a clear vision of the roadway; f P

With the above and other objects in view, theinvention will be hereinafter more particularly described, and the combination and arrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawings and pointed'out in theucla'ims which form part of this specification. v

Reference, will now be had to the drawings,

wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which: 7

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a headlight equipped with the glare shield.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2- 2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the headlight shown in Figures 1- and 2, and havinga modified glare shield attached thereto. a

Figure 4 is a front elevationof the headlight and glare shield shown in Figure 3. ,1

Figures is a perspective view of the modified glare shield shownin Figures 3 and 4. a

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, the numeral it indicates an automobile headlighthaving an in? candescent light bulb ll and equipped witha headlight glare shield l2 made in accordance with this invention. The shield 12 is preferably made ,of metal.

The glare shield comprises an arcuate flange 7 is which fits within a clamping member M of headlight m.

The glare shield l2 comprises a substantially semi-circular opaque and non-reflecting section ll which is in contacting relation with the upper portion of the headlight lens IS.

The shield section ll serves to exclude light from the upper portion of the lens.

The shield 12 also comprises a concave section I9 having a lower reflecting surface. The section l9 extends downwardly and. forwardly from the opaque lens-contacting section H. The lowest central portion 26 of the section $9 is in alinement with the axis of the bulb l l. The reflecting section l9 directs light from the light bulb downwardly and forwardly of the headlight l0.

Figures 3 to 5 inclusive show a modified headlight shield 22 made to fit the headlight it). The

' shield 22 comprises an arcuate flange 23 which fits within the clamping member l4.

' The shield 22 comprises a substantially semicircular o-paque section 21 which is positioned in contacting relation with the upper portion of the headlight lens is. The shield section 21 excludes light from the upper section of the lens It, the same as the section ll shown in Figures 29 is improved with semi-circular ribs 39 all over its surface. The ribs are directed toward the axis of the light bulb ll. Each rib 3 5 is of diverging form and smaller at the lens than at the free end portion of the section 29. It is to be noted that small portions at each end of the section 29 may be without ribs as shown.

It is to be noted that the walls of the ribs 30 taper outwardly and that the axes of the ribs diverge. Also that the reflecting section 29 is positioned in obtuse angular relation with the upright non-reflecting section 27.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the lens I8 has vertical flutes S1. The ribs 39 in the reflecting section 29 are in alinement with the fiutes 3i and coact therewith in directing the beams of light.

In the preferred embodiment, there is an equal number of ribs 36 and flutes 3|.

It will thus be seen that a more efficient light is produced with the ribbed shield than is the case with a shield having a single continuous reflecting surface, the reflecting ribs radiating outwardly and forwardly causing the light to be projected from the lower part of the headlight with downwardly directed beams of light and consequent safety to approaching automobiles and also to pedestrians.

In accordance with the patent statutes 1 have described and illustrated the preferred embodiments of my invention, but it will be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein Without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination, with a headlight having a lens provided with a plurality of vertical flutes, of an arcuate relecting strip attached to said lens so as to extend downwardly and away therefrom while having one edge in contact with the lens, said strip being provided with a plurality of ribs equal in number to and substantially aligned with said flutes and extending approximately transversely to said edge' across the'full width of said strip. ii 1 2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said ribs diverge from said edge toward the opposite side of said strip.

EMANUEL PETRAKAKIS.

(QEFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileiof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

